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With aging, the upper lip region becomes distorted and elongated, causing more of the lower lip to be visible than the upper lip during speech. — Diana Ponsky, What is an upper lip lift? Ask Dr. Diana Ponsky · 0:30
What is an upper lip lift? Ask Dr. Diana Ponsky
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video0:48 · Jun 2026
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Upper lip rejuvenation centers on restoring youthful facial proportions altered by gravitational aging. An upper lip lift reduces the distance from the nasal base to the vermilion border . The aesthetic target derives from the lower face thirds ratio: in youth, the upper lip region (subnasale to vermilion) occupies one-third of the lower face height, while the lower segment comprises two-thirds [e13239-c3, e13239-c4]. Aging disrupts this proportion through upper lip elongation, resulting in disproportionate lower lip exposure during animation [e13239-c2, e13239-c5]. Surgical shortening of the upper lip distance restores the youthful one-third to two-thirds ratio, producing measurable rejuvenation . The technique directly addresses the gravitational vector responsible for age-related distortion rather than relying on volumetric augmentation alone.
- Upper lip lift shortens subnasale-to-vermilion distance to restore youthful facial proportions [e13239-c1, e13239-c6].
- Ideal lower face proportions: upper lip region one-third, lower segment two-thirds of total height [e13239-c3, e13239-c4].
- Gravitational aging elongates the upper lip, distorting the thirds ratio and increasing lower lip visibility [e13239-c2, e13239-c5].
- Surgical shortening reverses age-related upper lip elongation, directly targeting gravitational distortion [e13239-c5, e13239-c6].
- Technique addresses structural proportion changes rather than volume loss alone [e13239-c2, e13239-c6].
For patients & families
As we age, the proportions of the lower face naturally change due to gravity. In younger faces, the area from the nose to the upper lip takes up about one-third of the lower face, while the area below the upper lip makes up the remaining two-thirds. Over time, the upper lip region can become stretched and elongated, which means more of the lower lip shows when speaking instead of the upper lip. Physicians discussed a procedure called an upper lip lift, which shortens the distance between the nose and the red part of the upper lip. By reducing this distance, the procedure can help restore more youthful facial proportions. The doctors explained how these changes in lip position affect the overall appearance of the face and how surgical techniques can address these age-related shifts.
As we age, the proportions of the lower face naturally change due to gravity. In younger faces, the area from the nose to the upper lip takes up about one-third of the lower face, while the area below the upper lip makes up the remaining two-thirds. Over time, the upper lip region can become stretched and elongated, which means more of the lower lip shows when speaking instead of the upper lip. Physicians discussed a procedure called an upper lip lift, which shortens the distance between the nose and the red part of the upper lip. By reducing this distance, the procedure can help restore more youthful facial proportions. The doctors explained how these changes in lip position affect the overall appearance of the face and how surgical techniques can address these age-related shifts.
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What is an upper lip lift? Ask Dr. Diana Ponsky
An upper lip lift is anything that will shorten the distance of the upper lip from under the nose to the red of the upper lip.
clinicalDiana Ponsky0:02 ↗
With gravity, the proportion of the lower face region changes with aging.
clinicalDiana Ponsky0:10 ↗
In youth, the upper lip area (from nose to upper lip vermilion) should occupy only one-third of the total lower face distance.
clinicalDiana Ponsky0:20 ↗
The lower portion of the face (from upper lip vermilion downward) should occupy two-thirds of the total lower face distance.
clinicalDiana Ponsky0:26 ↗
With aging, the upper lip region becomes distorted and elongated, causing more of the lower lip to be visible than the upper lip during speech.
clinicalDiana Ponsky0:30 ↗
Shortening the upper lip distance through an upper lip lift makes the face look younger.
clinicalDiana Ponsky0:41 ↗
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